charming brother of hers, Edward Gage?'

'Yes, and what is worse, Edward Gage's dissenting wife, and Dick
Rodd, who shows less sense of religion than any one in the parish,
and has never been confirmed.'

'Could you make them hear reason?'

'They were inclined to be rather impertinent,' said Mr. Devereux.
'Old Mrs. Gage--'

'Oh!' interrupted Jane, 'there is no hope for you if the sour Gage is
in the pie.'

'The sour Gage told me people were not so particular in her younger
days, and perhaps they should not have the child christened at all,
since I was such a CONTRARY gentleman. Tom Naylor was not at home, I
am to see him to-morrow.'

'Well, I do not think Tom Naylor is as bad as the rest,' said Lily;
'he would have been tolerable, if he had married any one but Martha
Gage.'

'Yes, he is an open good-natured fellow, and I have hopes of making
an impression on him.'

'If not,' said Lily, 'I hope papa will take away his custom.'

'What?' said Mr. Mohun, who always heard any mention of himself. Mr.
Devereux repeated his history, and discussed the matter with his